MEETING 3

During meeting two the group met remotely on zoom to discuss part3 of the book.  We discussed how small changes in behavior can lead to a more positive outlook. Sanderson discussed the impact of nature on attitude and how a small shift in our “vista” can improve outlook. All of us related to the chapter on the value of sharing life experiences over material things. “Material Objects are like French Vanilla ice cream.  The first taste is great, but after the 7^th it begins to taste like cardboard.” An interesting point was that taking pictures enables you to relive the experience, however some of us felt if we were taking pictures we are missing the experience. Studies have demonstrated that we get the most bang for our buck when we share experiences with our loved ones.

In chapter 11 and 12, Sanderson discusses that participating in charitable activities often confers greater benefits on the giver than the receiver.  The random acts of kindness cliché is really true. The impact of love on temperament cannot be underestimated.   Sanderson discusses the impact of mortality on one’s life prospective in the final chapter.  Another interesting correlation seems to be between relationships and happiness. The richer and deeper our relationships the happier we are.  Again begin richer or having more “thing” does not seem to lead to greater happiness.

Most of us enjoyed the book and agree that approaching life with a “half-full” prospective is beneficial. We all appreciated many of the antidotes and studies backing up this prospective. We all appreciated the end of chapter summaries that included “a list of take-a-ways that can be great reminders of small steps we can all take to improve our outlook on life. Particularly in the last 10 months we all can benefit from finding ways to incorporate some of the suggestions in the book into our personal and professional lives.

MEETING 2

During meeting two the group met remotely on zoom to discuss part 2 of the book.  We discussed the impact of temperament on how we view the world.  The author sited studies of older adults in different cultures enjoying longer lives if they did new things, learned new things created new neurological pathways in the brain.  Does being with happy people “rub off” on someone, or with unhappy people make us unhappy?

The impact of comparison was talked about. A quote “supposedly” by Teddy Roosevelt “Comparison is the theft of joy.” A study cited by the author that relative income was more important in predicting satisfaction. We discussed if social influencers and social media make people feel more isolated and less happy.  The author discussed the high degree of suicide in young people who seem to have it all and wondered if social isolation was contributing to this.

We discussed how adversity or having to struggle to obtain success can build someone’s character.

During meeting one the group met remotely on “zoom” to discuss part 1 of the book.  Many of us were concerned that the book was a self-help book.  Dawn was happy that the author supported content with the results of scientific studies. This section focused on the effect of mindset on aging and that older adults did much worse on memory tests when they were reminded of their “age”.  An interesting study indicated that even young adults were affected by the ageism messages. We talked about how self-criticism can lead to loss of confidence and then failure and how a positive shift, the theme of the book, could possible change that trajectory.  For many people we concluded including the author, this type of shift is not natural. Their tendency is to view the world with a half empty not half full glass.

It’s the reason why spending time on Facebook makes us feel sad and lonely. Why expensive name-brand medicines provide better pain relief than the generic stuff, even if they share the same ingredients. And why a hospital room with a good view speeds up recovery from surgery.

The truth is the way we think about ourselves and the world around us dramatically impacts our happiness, health, how fast or slow we age, and even how long we live. In fact, people with a positive mindset about aging live on average 7.5 years longer than those without.

That might sound alarming to those of us who struggle to see the bright side, but the good news is we can make surprisingly simple changes or small shifts to how we think, feel, and act that will really pay off.

In The Positive Shift: Mastering Mindset to Improve Happiness, Health, and Longevity, Dr. Catherine Sanderson breaks down the science of thought and shows how our mindset – or thought pattern – exerts a substantial influence on our psychological and physical health. Most important, this book demonstrates how, no matter what our natural tendency, with practice we can make minor tweaks in our mindset that will improve the quality – and longevity – of our life.

Combining cutting-edge research from the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and medicine, as well as vivid real-world examples of the power of mindset, The Positive Shift gives listeners practical and easy strategies for changing maladaptive thought patterns and behaviors, so they can live longer, happier lives. These behaviors include:

• Appreciating nature, with actions as simple as eating lunch outside
• Giving to others, like volunteering
• Spending money on experiences, not possessions

Living your best life is truly mind over matter. Believe in yourself, and rethink your way to a happier reality.